I guess I'm not a"Real Man" because I prefer an auto tranny. I've been ATVing and snowmobiling for 42 years and have had both auto and manual, so it's not a matter of lacking the skill to shift manually. The auto deliver smoother tranistion of power, and I am willing to give up a little power at the wheels for the convenience. Do you pull the mufflers off your pick up and add stacks like a semi to impress the girls too?

 

Got to say that if I was forced to ride an atuo, my choice would be the Honda Rancher 400AT/Rubicon trans. While it is a needlessly complex solution to a problem that doesn't really exist (vs a gear-on-gear manual), I do prefer it to the blet drives. (Ever notice that the belt drive trannies all NEED a transfer case????)

Then again, the Yamaha Griz 700 probably has the best chassis of all the utes, so if I was forced to ride an atuo I might just go that route and force myslef to live with the rubber band, to get the better handling chassis. Fortunately, I'm not forced to make any of these choices......

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RedRubi

Anyway....auto trannies are for beginners and little girls who can't manage to figure out how to shift a manual........



What would you do if a girl (And I know one who could do it) kick the shlt out of you on your bean grinder old school manny on a rough mountain trail with her auto.

 

Wow, What a bunch of stuff to read. I just returned from a week stomping the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming. Did a little camping and riding with my son and a few friends. Glad to see the topic is still actually close the orginal opening question. Yes I took the girly Yamaha 700 automatic out and rode around. But you know it was nice to see one of those spider web things that go between the trees and put my hand up to keep it from going into the face of my 4 year old and still be able to turn the steering with the other hand to avoid that rock. Power steering is great as well. My major reason for buying a different wheeler was the shifting. It also seemed when I wasn't going through the trees I would be in the highest gear it would pull and WOT 80% of the time. Up shifting was fine and downshifting was the problem when coming to a stop and having to rock the bike to get it to shift back to first.

I spent some time looking at the Honda automatics and since the Rubicon was the only one with a Hi/Lo transfer case I prefered it. But it goes back to the heavy steering and the low travel rear suspension. Machine size very similar to the Yamaha. So then I was being pushed toward the Rincon just to get the suspension. Keep in mind I was first wanting to buy a used unit and most of the Honda used in this area of Western Nebraska came off of a ranch and are beat up. The Yamahas are mainly recreational and in much better shape and lower mileage. The local dealer did have a 2004 Rancher AT with 2000 miles on it but said it was for women so they didn't have to shift and pushed me away from it. My friend has one of those girly 2005 Rancher AT 400 with 16642 miles on it. I drove it to move the generator from the garage to the pickup and remembered why I opted for the nicer suspension and power steering over the "Honda Quality".

As for the Polaris guy, you guys should be nicer to him. Ever since he went to steal a beer out of his dad's refrigerator he had his computer taken away.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: crazy1291

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Mountana



That's where you're wrong. The Ruby tranny doesn't shift in Jolts. Just a smooth transition of the swish plate that you can 't even feel shifting. In fact, any auto tranny shifts smoother than a bean grinder clash box. I had my fill of manual cave man transmissions on bikes and trucks. The worst made auto beats a clunky grind box any day.</end quote></div>



our 99 honda civic says otherwise



its automatic and shifts in jolts (when you go WOT, it revs real high (for a car) and all of a sudden it shifts and the rpms die and rise again, but slower this time)

The tranny is also spaced really messed up.... much to0 wide gearing, but it still only tops at about 103mph, and takes 1.25miles to get there



"Autos maintain a more constant and equal torque in places where you need it. Autos also keep you in your power band more effectively, no matter what engine you have."



How can that be true? Staying in its optimum rpm and powerband section?



If it has actual gears, not a CVT, it doesnt stay in its optimum rpm at all. Like a car it shifts and the rpms die, and rise againm</end quote></div>


Why are you comparing a car to a Rubicon?
And YES the Rubicon DOES have a CVT transmission and NO it doesnt shift in jolts.

 

I've been thinking about buying an airplane. Maybe I better get one with a manual shifter to maintain a manly status. Then when I'm flying over the mountains I can shift down a gear or 2 to get over the mountains. LOL

 

alrigt i didnt know the rubicon was cvt... i was under the impression that honda hated anything that hasnt been around for 50 years yet

thats really cool, a cvt honda.... thats like a manual polaris [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: crazy1291

alrigt i didnt know the rubicon was cvt... i was under the impression that honda hated anything that hasnt been around for 50 years yet



thats really cool, a cvt honda.... thats like a manual polaris [img][/img]</end quote></div>

Except it weighs about 100 pounds less ..... LOL

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RedRubi

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: crazy1291



alrigt i didnt know the rubicon was cvt... i was under the impression that honda hated anything that hasnt been around for 50 years yet
thats really cool, a cvt honda.... thats like a manual polaris [IMG][/IMG]</end quote></div>

Except it weighs about 100 pounds less ..... LOL</end quote></div>

Its funny cuz its true


back on track, honda's alright, overpriced for some models (400ex) but still alright

you know what, im gonna complain about the 400ex and why they dont make it a few hundred dollars cheaper than the z400? This is my reasoning:

1) its aircooled- they dont need to buy expensive radiators
2) its getting old (why not bump down the price to make it more attractive?)

darn i thought there would be more (probly are but im to bored to think right now)

 

Back to the original question concerning the topics on this forum and quality. I always assumed that when people have problems, they are more likely to post on a forum to find answers to their problems. Rarely do most people post about "nothing going wrong everything is great, ain't life sweet" . Just my 2 cents.